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Manousakis E, Miralles CM, Esquerda MG, Wright RHG. CDKN1A/p21 in Breast Cancer: Part of the Problem, or Part of the Solution? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17488. [PMID: 38139316 PMCID: PMC10743848 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (Cip1/Waf1/CDKN1A/p21) is a well-established protein, primarily recognised for its pivotal role in the cell cycle, where it induces cell cycle arrest by inhibiting the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Over the years, extensive research has shed light on various additional mechanisms involving CDKN1A/p21, implicating it in processes such as apoptosis, DNA damage response (DDR), and the regulation of stem cell fate. Interestingly, p21 can function either as an oncogene or as a tumour suppressor in these contexts. Complicating matters further, the expression of CDKN1A/p21 is elevated in certain tumour types while downregulated in others. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of the multifaceted functions of CDKN1A/p21, present clinical data pertaining to cancer patients, and delve into potential strategies for targeting CDKN1A/p21 as a therapeutic approach to cancer. Manipulating CDKN1A/p21 shows great promise for therapy given its involvement in multiple cancer hallmarks, such as sustained cell proliferation, the renewal of cancer stem cells (CSCs), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell migration, and resistance to chemotherapy. Given the dual role of CDKN1A/p21 in these processes, a more in-depth understanding of its specific mechanisms of action and its regulatory network is imperative to establishing successful therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roni H. G. Wright
- Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195 Barcelona, Spain
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Garbarino O, Lambroia L, Basso G, Marrella V, Franceschini B, Soldani C, Pasqualini F, Giuliano D, Costa G, Peano C, Barbarossa D, Annarita D, Salvati A, Terracciano L, Torzilli G, Donadon M, Faggioli F. Spatial resolution of cellular senescence dynamics in human colorectal liver metastasis. Aging Cell 2023:e13853. [PMID: 37157887 PMCID: PMC10352575 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic metastasis is a clinical challenge for colorectal cancer (CRC). Senescent cancer cells accumulate in CRC favoring tumor dissemination. Whether this mechanism progresses also in metastasis is unexplored. Here, we integrated spatial transcriptomics, 3D-microscopy, and multicellular transcriptomics to study the role of cellular senescence in human colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). We discovered two distinct senescent metastatic cancer cell (SMCC) subtypes, transcriptionally located at the opposite pole of epithelial (e) to mesenchymal (m) transition. SMCCs differ in chemotherapy susceptibility, biological program, and prognostic roles. Mechanistically, epithelial (e)SMCC initiation relies on nucleolar stress, whereby c-myc dependent oncogene hyperactivation induces ribosomal RPL11 accumulation and DNA damage response. In a 2D pre-clinical model, we demonstrated that RPL11 co-localized with HDM2, a p53-specific ubiquitin ligase, leading to senescence activation in (e)SMCCs. On the contrary, mesenchymal (m)SMCCs undergo TGFβ paracrine activation of NOX4-p15 effectors. SMCCs display opposing effects also in the immune regulation of neighboring cells, establishing an immunosuppressive environment or leading to an active immune workflow. Both SMCC signatures are predictive biomarkers whose unbalanced ratio determined the clinical outcome in CRLM and CRC patients. Altogether, we provide a comprehensive new understanding of the role of SMCCs in CRLM and highlight their potential as new therapeutic targets to limit CRLM progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luca Lambroia
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Gianluca Basso
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Marrella
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Institute of Genetics and Biomedical Research, UoS of Milan, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Franceschini
- Department of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristiana Soldani
- Department of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Pasqualini
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (MI), Italy
| | | | - Guido Costa
- Department of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (MI), Italy
| | - Clelia Peano
- Institute of Genetics and Biomedical Research, UoS of Milan, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Destro Annarita
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andreina Salvati
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Terracciano
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (MI), Italy
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Guido Torzilli
- Department of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (MI), Italy
| | - Matteo Donadon
- Department of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (MI), Italy
| | - Francesca Faggioli
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Institute of Genetics and Biomedical Research, UoS of Milan, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
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